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him instead of encouraging him? Then perhaps that teacher's prognosis would have been proved right.
Some years ago in Mumbai, the class teacher of a fourth standard student had opined :"you will not move ahead in life because you don't write well". His hand-writing was really poor. Yet his mother used to hold his hand and spend hours helping him to improve his hand-writing. She would continuously pat his back encouragingly, saying that he was progressing well and kept increasing his enthusiasm. This boy today holds three degrees and runs classes for English and Accounts.
Many medicines are recognized as life saving drugs. Emotional support and encouragement belong to this category of medicine. Delicate moments come very seldom in life when advice and directions do not suffice. These are the moments when emotional support and encouragement prove to provide life support like oxygen cylinders. When children are confused, parents who have donned the roles of friend, philosopher and guide always make themselves available to their children.
Friendship is developed when two hands meet, love is fostered when two eyes meet but when you get the emotional warmth of a mother's lap and a father's shoulder, a child's life is designed. Be approachable.
3. Be Reasonable : Don't be unreasonable. For the child's development, advice and discipline should be used in a balanced manner. You cannot expect a child to complete his lessons by locking the child in a bathroom. Similarly you cannot expect the child to memorize his lessons quickly by keeping him hungry. The child does not like to be advised for
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